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Au Pair Guidelines

The Bunbury Care Agency is a member of the British Au Pair Agencies Association (BAPAA) and abide by their recommended code of conduct in the recruitment of Au Pairs. We find our Au Pairs through partner agencies who are members of the sister association, IAPA.

All our procedures meet the regulations and requirements of the Home Office.

The Au Pair program is a cultural exchange and not a contract of work. In order to be accepted as an Au Pair you must be a single Male/Female, aged between 17 – 27, who wants to live with a UK family, in order to improve your English, and experience life in another Country, for a maximum of 2 years.

All our families are thoroughly vetted and their references verbally checked. We interview every family either face to face or by telephone or Skype.

The Host family is inviting you into their home and you should expect to be treated like a member of the family. You are not a domestic servant or Housekeeper.

  • You will be provided with your own heated bedroom and if possible your own television.
  • Wherever possible you should eat your meals together.
  • You should be encouraged to be with the family in the evenings.
  • The Host Family will find the time to chat with you, make an effort to introduce you to people of your own age, and show you around the local area. This will help you to settle in far more easily.
  • The Host Family will provide you with all your food and some pocket money appropriate to the number of hours you work, as well as the opportunity to improve your knowledge of the English language preferably through a local college.
  • The Host Family will check with their Doctor to see if they are prepared to accept you as an NHS patient and help you with any financial matters such as setting up a Bank Account.
  • You will be entitled to all the benefits provided by BAPAA, The British Au Pairs Agencies Association.

We at the Bunbury Agency understand that staying in a foreign country can be a frightening experience to begin with and we are here to help you in every way possible.

We take great care to try and match the requirements and preferences of both the Host Family and the Au Pair and are always available to give advice and assistance to both parties during the period of the placement.

Should you have any problems; either the Agency or the BAPAA emergency telephone line will be available to help you.

Responsibilities

You have the following responsibilities:

  • To help the Host Family care for their children e.g. taking and picking up from school/ nursery, simple cooking, playing games, bathing and putting them to bed.
  • Assist with light domestic duties such as vacuuming, dusting, light washing and ironing.
  • It is important to remember that you are not a qualified Nanny, and are not specifically trained to look after either babies or very young children therefore you should not be left in sole charge of children under 2 years of age. An outline timetable of the duties will be included in the Host Family’s Invitation.
  • To honor and abide by the conditions agreed by your and your family which has set down in ‘The Placement Agreement’.
  • To respect their home and privacy and make every effort to live according to their life style in a harmonious way.
  • To take into account any cultural differences and show full respect for your Host Family’s religious and moral values.
  • To abide by the family’s house rules and instructions.

Procedures

In order to register as an Au Pair you will need to:

  • Fill in an application form with one of our partner agencies who are member of IAPA (the International Au Pairs Association).
  • Provide a ‘Dear Family’ letter to the Host Family (in English) describing your employment history, your childcare experience, your domestic experience, your qualifications, employment history and your hobbies and interests.
  • Provide at least two written references from people whose children you have looked after or babysat.
  • Provide character references.
  • Provide a current Police Check.
  • Provide a recent Medical Certificate.
  • Provide a copy of a valid passport or ID Card.
  • Your agency will check all your references and documents before sending any information to the Bunbury Agency.
  • When we have a suitable placement for you, your agency will provide you with a ‘Placement Schedule’.
  • If you are interested in this placement arrangements will be made for to have an interview either by telephone or Skype.
  • You will receive an ‘Official Invitation’ on behalf of the Host Family.

Once the Official Invitation has been agreed your Placement Agreement which states that you need to agree and interact fully with your family’s needs will be sent to your Agent for your signature.

This Agreement will detail the following:

  • The start and end date of your placement
  • Your duties, responsibilities and daily routine
  • The hours you are expected to work
  • The amount of pocket money you will receive, including an overtime rate
  • Your free time and holiday allowances

This document needs to be signed by you and returned to your Agent as soon as possible.

The Host Family will then be sent a copy and duly sign this agreement.

Finally you will be expected to:

  • Have a valid passport or ID.
  • Pay all your travel fares and any language course fees.
  • Come to the UK with an open return ticket or sufficient funds to pay your fare home in case you have to return home earlier than expected.
  • Give at least two weeks notice to the Host Family if you want to go home unless there is an emergency when permission to leave is at the discretion of the Host Family who will be sympathetic to the situation.
  • Have a responsible attitude and commitment towards the family and treat the family’s home and possessions with respect.

Upon your arrival you will find a ‘Welcome Pack’ which has been sent to your family containing the following documents:

  • Welcome Letter
  • Copy of your Placement Schedule
  • Guidelines for Host Families and Au Pairs
  • BAPAA Handbook and details of all the benefits available through BAPAA. (link to BAPAA page)
  • Free O2 Sim card
  • Details of Aupair2aupair website
  • Emergency Telephone Helpline number
  • BAPAA Au Pairs discounts provided by
    • International Friends
    • Merlin Entertainments
    • International Students’ House
    • Safe and Sound First Aid courses
    • OCN accredited On Line Au Pair courses

Your family will agree with you from the outset the following:

  • What to do in an emergency
  • Approach to discipline
  • Daily routines
  • Dress code (if required)
  • House rules (if applicable)

Remember, we are always available to give advice and assistance to both parties during the period of the placement.

Financial

  • You can expect to work for a minimum of 25 hours and up to a maximum of 35 hours per week over a 5 day period.
  • This can include up to 2 nights baby sitting per week.
  • In return you expect to receive pocket money ranging from £70 – £120 per week depending on the number of hours and the location.
  • The minimum for 25 hours is £70 and the minimum for 35 hours is £85.
  • An hourly rate for additional hours should be agreed before the commencement of the placement.
  • Your are entitled to 2 full days off per week and 1 fully paid week off per three months.
  • If you are staying with your family for less than 12 months, holiday is calculated pro rata at the rate of 1.66 days per month.
  • Your will also need free time if you are to attend English classes.

Elderly Care Information

We offer a very personal and bespoke service supplying carefully selected Carers and Companions who look after all your needs.

To view more information about our elderly care services click here

Child Care Information

We are members of the Association of Nanny Agencies (ANA) and the British Au Pair Agencies Association (BAPAA).

To view more information about our child care services click here

Household Care Information

We can provide domestic and household Staff on a daily or residential, full time or part time, permanent or temporary basis.

To view more information about our household care services click here

Testimonial

Please pass on our grateful thanks to all your staff that cared for Jill. Thank you is never enough in these circumstances. We have come to know many of the girls who were so kind and generous with their time and care, without whom Jill would have had to be admitted to a hospital or home.

St Albans, Herts

Testimonial

Dear Emily, Sarah and Trish. Thank you so much for your kind and caring attention through these past years. It is really appreciated. Mum died peacefully in her own bed, thanks to you and the Carers... the most recent of which was one of the very best carers possible. Thank you all.

Tyne & Wear

Testimonial

I am writing to you to thank you for your letter and condolences. I was very impressed by the professionalism and care everyone I dealt with at Bunbury, including the two Carers that sadly never had the opportunity to look after my father. Thank you for all your help and support at what was a very difficult time for me and my father. With all good wishes.

Oxford

Testimonial

Dear Mrs Potter, ...I am deeply grateful for all the loving and devoted care that was given to my father over the two years we have called on the Agency for help. I know he appreciated all that was done for him and I am thankful that I arranged the “Bunbury Birds” to look after him.

Denbighshire

Testimonial

Dear Emily and the “Bunbury Birds”. I am writing to thank you very warmly for all the wonderful Carers you have so kindly supplied to look after my father ...He was so pleased to be able to live in his own home. May I say how grateful I am for all the support and help you have given me ...You have provided a wonderful service.

Leeds

Testimonial

Dear Emily, Our thanks to all your kind ladies who looked after my mother in her final months. Mother loved her home which she moved into as a new bride in 1938 and it is thanks to the unstinting attention, most kindly given by the Bunbury ladies, that she was able to stay there until her peaceful end. We shall always remember their cheerful diligence and care.

Prestbury

Testimonial

Dear Emily, I would like to thank you and your team for bringing comfort and happiness to Mum in what turned out to be a very short period of time since joining the ‘Rosy Rota’. As you know I was very apprehensive, wondering whether Mum would cope with the new situation. As it turned out your ladies brought laughter and fun back into her life ...her sparkle had returned.

Didsbury

Testimonial

The Family and I would like to thank all member of staff and carers of the Bunbury Agency, for the time and trouble they have taken over the past three and half years, to ensure that my parents received the care required to enable them to remain in their own home. This was their strongest desire and with your help we were able to carry out their wishes. Long may your valuable work continue for many years to come.

Aylesbury

Testimonial

Dear Mrs Potter, Sarah & Beth. I just wanted to thank you for all your help, through good and hard times over the past six years. Not only have you never let us down, but I have felt a very real relationship with you, as though we have been working together to keep things going. This last month has been really difficult for us all, especially seeing my mother declining with increasing rapidity. My great ambition was to keep her in her own home until the end. Without your help this would not have been achieved.

Cumbria

Testimonial

I am very happy to recommend Bunbury Agency as an effective and responsible organisation.

Cheshire

Testimonial

I would like to take this opportunity on behlaf of our family to thank you for all you have done in supplying our mother with very caring ladies. They all did thier utmost to make her happy and healthy in her last year.

Preston

Testimonial

Trish has been the most wonderful Carer for Mum and she was all that I ever wanted from someone for Mum plus a lot more. We were so blessed that she came into our lives! Every day Mum looked forward to her coming and felt so safe and secure when she was around. It is so hard to put all Trish's wonderful qualities into words, but nothing was ever too much for her and when things got hard she was always around to help and do above and beyond what we needed. She looked after us all really! When Mum was in the hospice, she still visited which gave Mum such a boost and I will never forget her kindness in sitting with Mum the night before she died so my brothers and I could go out and have something to eat. When our elderly parents need care it's hard to entrust them to strangers and I hope that there is a "Trish" for me one day! I will never forget her and I can never thank her enough for all she has done. Thank you again for your thoughtfulness and for putting us in touch with such a wonderful person.

Tarporley, Cheshire

Testimonial

Dear Mrs Green, Thank you so much for your kind letter about my mother Sylvia. She was very well looked after by all the nice Carers you provided for her. Whilst she could be a little insensitive at times due to her dementia I believe, she certainly appreciated their company and the sensitive way they looked after her. Thank you again for all you did for her.

Heswall, Wirral

Testimonial

Dear Mrs Green, Thank you very much for your letter and your kind thoughts following the death of my sister. You did indeed supply three Carers for her in September and October. We were very happy with Margaret and Alex was superb in every way and did so many extra things to improve my sister's quality of life. It must have been very traumatic for her when my sister died, but I am just thankful that she was with someone who was so caring.

Gillingham

Testimonial

Dear Trish, A personal note of thanks from Sue and myself for all your dedication to keeping things running smoothly at my mother's. It seems a very long time ago since you sent the first Bunbury Carer along. Sue and I have always known that we'd be alright "Trish will sort it out" - somehow!! A very big thank you.

Warrington, Cheshire

Testimonial

Dear Sarah, Now that the family have made the decision that Mother should stay in the Care Home, I write to thank you and the Agency for all the help and assistance you have given over the years. We have had some "interesting" moments but the Agency has, with very few exceptions, managed to provide care to a very high standard. Please pass on our thanks to the many Carers who have been to my Mother's. Trish continues to provide wonderful support, visiting Mother each afternoon.

Tarporley, Cheshire

Testimonial

Dear Mrs Green, It is with regret that I write to confirm that we will no longer require the services of your Bunbury Ladies. Most of them have proved excellent at caring for my mother who has not always been the easiest person to look after and they have exercised good sense and discretion in caring for her. As her quality of life has declined, this has been a great comfort to the family. Thank you so much for all the Agency and the Ladies did for her.

Heswall, Wirral